Mike L

Maybe I'm not understanding...If not, then disregard... A "flipping" weight to me is a heavy enough weight to get through what I want to get through. A "worm" weight to me is weight light enough to reach the depth I want to reach without impeding the action of the plastic. Mike

Punch skirt?....Mmmmmm Mike

Ditto... (As needed) Mike

Tip... When useing the unweighted hook, you may want to peg the smallest tungsten bullet weight you have. Or find the glass ones. It will help the hook eye from dragging grass. At least for me it does. Mike

Been on beds for about a month and half and there will still be some in a month and a half. Mike

Joe... Go get yourself some keel weighted, 5/0, screw lock, super line hooks. Tie the best knot you can on your braided line and throw that thing in the jungle. Swim it up over and through the grass, weeds, pads anything that floats or grows. When you get hit, be ready. Momma will come at you from any angle and at any speed. Keep constant hard pressure from hook up all the way back. Have Fun! Mike

Never owned a 50. Always thought about getting one but just couldn't justify it for what I do. I always felt that a 200 can do whatever I will need it to do, but maybe a 50 couldn't do it as well...So I didn't. Mike

Tip... If you use an unweighted hook, whatever size and style, you may want to use a swivel. Those things tend to twist. If you don't want to use a weighted hook, you can use a nail weight of some sort...ribbed nail weight, piece of coat hanger, finishing nail etc. Put it in the back for a natural horizontal fall, in the nose for a more vertical fall, or closer to the tail. Experiment a little bit. Mike

I'll tell ya, a LOT of times I don't even think about setting the hook. They smack that thing like its thier last meal. What I do do is let em take it, and swing like you're throwing a Carolina rig keeping constant pressure. Think about it like trying to hook up with a frog, with out the hard set. What you may be feeling are smaller bass or bluegill going after the paddle. If that happens a lot either change color or slow your retrieve down to just fast enough to get the paddle moving. The rod and braided line I use aren't for thier sensitivity. I hope this helps Mike

I use a 7ft H/F Falcon rod with a 7:1 PQ spooled with 30# braid. You can throw them anywhere, but to me the best way is right threw the grass with a steady retrieve ripping it hard when hung up or just ticking the tops all the way back and letting it fall into any openings or when the grass thins out. Also, dont let thick hydrilla or milfoil scare you. Toss that thing as far as you can and drag it along the top, letting it fall on it's own in every hole you find. Hold on tight! There are times when I don't put that rod down all day. Mike

Dang Roger! If I would have read that before I replyed, I would have kept my mouth shut! Thats it Mike

For that size of a soft swim bait I prefer Skinny Dippers and use a 5/0 screw lock 1/4 oz weighted hook. For the standard size Big EZ I use a 1/4 oz also but a 6/0 hook. Sometimes depending on clarity I'll rig it with a 6/0 1/8oz gold 3.5 willow Duz-It hook also. The 1/4 oz. keel weight helps to keep it balanced and rideing straight up especially swimming it through the grass which is the ideal way to use it. Mike

Ain't that the truth! Mike

Rage Cut R It's fast becoming my go too, do everything plastic. T rig, Fla rig, Rage Rig, Shaky Head, Weightless....You get the idea. Mike

Hey John!! Super Fluke Mike

As far as just fun fishin either alone or with friends a B+. Living in Fla gives an advantage as I can fish all year long in the huge number of fresh water canals, ponds, creeks, mining pits etc. Never got close to bettering my PB but that's alright. Tounament wise a B. I didn't cash in as many as I would have liked but enough to still give hope. When I draw a boater who remembers I'm back there my confidence soars and so do the totals. The thing that I judge myself by is consistency and decision making. Not just the number of limits or even total bag weights, but by how many correct adjustments did I make?... Did I use my practice time wisely, Make The right equipment choices, presentation, lure selection etc. Did I recognise a developing patten in time to take advantage of it, etc. Mike

SK Pure Poison / Booyah Mike

Done!! Mike

There ya go!! I learned something today! Thanks Mike

Ditto With practice you can get it to walk in place as good or even better than many others. I just love that little thing. Mike

20# braid with a 12# floro leader for spinning rod 30# braid for all top water 65# braid for punching 15# floro for light cover Mike

I've gone through 3 different bags over the years and finally settled on the Flambeau AZ8 also. IMHO it's perfect for a tournament co angler as it has all the right compartments, in all the right sizes, in all the right places to be able to get right to what you want quick. It's not as wide or as long as most others just a little taller, but fits nicely between your legs or in a storage compartment if your boater gives you one to use. I allways bring 6 rods and sometimes 7 depending on what my boaters plan is for the day, which is allways discussed at the pairing meeting. I keep them wrapped together to conserve space. A small lunch bag, as I don't eat much while on the boat anyway and a vest. What I do to transport my stuff if meeting my boater at the ramp (which I try not to do) is I'll put the vest on, sling the bag over my shoulder, hold the wrapper rods together with one hand and the lunch bag with the other. If I can meet up with my boater before launching or the night before 100% of the time he'll let me lock the lunch bag and vest in the boat then. The tackle bag and rods allways stays with me. I hope this helps, Good Luck to you Mike

Absolutely! Rodman is one lake that doesn't get enough credit for the quality fishery it is. Big O, Toho, St Johns, Kissimmee etc get all the publicity down here, and rightfully so, but nobody talks or even thinks about Rodman. It's gone through some changes over the years but believe me when I tell you this lake is something special. Mike

Mostly different weights, which is dictated by the cover. I use the H/XF strictly for punching matt's of floating or submergered hydrilla from 1/2 oz to 1 1/2 oz weights. I have no problem useing it for close in flippin or pitching farther up. I used the MH/F before I got the Heavy, and tho they worked allright, by moveing up to the Heavy I just don't worry as much about the rod as the power is enough to pull out 10lbs grass along with the fish. The Xf action is an added plus as it helps me with pin point accuracy, solid hook set's, and getting thier head up quick which is the most critical part of fishing that way. I think you'll be pleased with a H/XF if you spend a lot of time up close and personal. Mike

I'd say 60%-80% of my presentations is either pitchin or flippin, every outing. It's just what I like to do more than any other technique, but most times its just required. I have 3... 7' 6" MH/F Custom on a MHX blank / Revo S with 65# braid 7' 6" H/XF Smoke / Curado G with 50# braid. 7' 0" MH/F Fenwick Techna Av / Curado E with 15# Floro Mike